Tag: Fantasy

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Movie Review

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) Movie Review

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – ABC Film Challenge – Sequels/Remakes – V (Vinda Rosier) – The Secrets of Dumbledore – Movie Review

Secrets of Dumbledore Poster

Director: David Yates

Writer: J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Professor Albus Dumbledore must assist Newt Scamander and his partners as Grindelwald begins to lead an army to eliminate all Muggles.

Runtime: 2 Hours 22 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore starts in the aftermath of the last movie. Grindelwald (Mikkelsen) has his crimes wiped and sets off on his own plan to eliminate all Muggles. Elsewhere, Dumbledore (Law) must work with Newt (Redmayne) to stop his evil plan.

As everyone comes together in the battle, we get to see who is on which side of the battle. Newt continues to use his fantastic beasts to help in the battles. Meanwhile, Grindelwald makes everything much more dangerous than originally planned.

Verdict on Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is a fantasy sequel continuing the battle between wizards. It sees the evil Grindelwald looking to make his next plan unfold and Dumbledore doing what he can to stop him.

This has become a franchise surrounded by controversy over the last few years. From original author J.K. Rowling’s opinions and behaviour of cast members Johnny Depp and Ezra Miller. While this doesn’t have an effect on the bigger story, the story itself has become slow. Very little seems to be happening and the bloated cast of characters only ends up holding things back. Not enough focus is placed on the characters we have met early on in the franchise and the new generic figures feel flat.

Final Thoughts – Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is a flat addition to the wizarding world.

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Movie Review

Dragonheart Vengeance (2020) Movie Review

Dragonheart Vengeance – ABC Film Challenge – Sequels/Remakes – L (Lukas) – Dragonheart Vengeance – Movie Review

Dragonheart Vengeance – ABC Film Challenge – Sequels/Remakes – L (Lukas) – Dragonheart Vengeance - Movie Review

Director: Ivan Silvestrini

Writer: Matthew Feitshans, Patrick Read Johnson, Charles Edward Pogue (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Lukas, a young farmer whose family is killed by savage raiders in the countryside, sets out on an epic quest for revenge, forming an unlikely trio with a majestic dragon and a swashbuckling, sword-fighting mercenary, Darius.

Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Dragonheart Vengeance starts when a young farmer Lukas (Kane) sees his family murdered by four raiders. He wants to get revenge and goes in search of a hunter to help him track down the killers. Lukas finds himself a lone hunter Darius (Millson) who promises to help him hunt them down.

As Lukas searches for more help, he is advised to search for a dragon, Siveth. Now, the three go on their quest which ends up uncovering a much bigger secret in the kingdom. One that could change the kingdom forever.

Verdict on Dragonheart Vengeance

Dragonheart Vengeance is an action-adventure fantasy movie. It follows a young farmer as he gets to learn about the power of the dragon in a revenge-filled journey. All along uncovering a bigger problem in the kingdom they live in.

This being the 5th in the franchise with a massive gap between each movie looks to capture the popular dragons in entertainment. We can thank Game of Thrones for this. When it comes to pure adventure, it is easy to watch and doesn’t do anything outside of what we would expect. However, it is all by-the-book storytelling, with an unlikely person stepping up against the power that is controlled by power. You can see where the story will go, and it leaves us exactly where you would expect it to.

Final Thoughts – Dragonheart Vengeance is a by-the-book fantasy movie.

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Movie Review

Highlander III: The Final Dimension (1994) Movie Review

Highlander 3: The Final Dimension – ABC Film Challenge – Sequels/Reboots – F – Highlander 3 The Final Dimension – Movie Review

Highlander 3

Director: Andrew Morahan

Writer: Paul Ohl (Screenplay)

Writer: Brad Mirman, William N Panzer (Story)

Cast

  • Christopher Lambert (Mortal Kombat)
  • Mario Van Peebles (Jaws the Revenge)
  • Deborah Kara Unger (Silent Hill)
  • Mako (Conan the Barbarian)
  • Raoul Max Trujillo (Riddick)

Plot: Deceived that he had won the Prize, Connor MacLeod awakens from a peaceful life when an entombed immortal magician comes seeking the Highlander.

Runtime: 1 Hour 39 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Highlander 3: The Final Dimension starts as Connor MacLeod (Lambert) continues his adventures around New York. He continues to protect the world from magicians who will cause trouble in the world. Kane (Peebles)is awakened from his century-long sleep, searching for Connor in New York.

As Alex Johnson (Unger) discovers evidence of ancient relics, she unwittingly leads Kane to Connor. The two go into a final showdown to see who will control the world for magicians.

Verdict on Highlander 3: The Final Dimension

Highlander 3: The Final Dimension is the third adventure in the Highlander stories. It continues to build on the legacy of the character and his battle between his past and present. He comes up against the deadliest enemy yet an enemy he defeated before who is out for vengeance.

In what is a strange sequel, it dives nicely into the back story of Connor’s adventures. However, there are some completely bonkers sequences with Kane, including a chase which feels completely out of context for the film.

This is one you would sit back and wonder what the hell you just saw. and in a mixed way, because you kind of wants to see the crazy side again, but other sides are not as interesting.

Final Thoughts – Highlander 3: The Final Dimension is a bonkers sequel.

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Movie Review

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) Movie Review

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – ABC Film Challenge – 2010s Movies – N (Narnia) – Movie Review

DAwn Treader

Director: Michael Apted

Writer: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Michael Petroni (Screenplay)

Writer: C.S. Lewis (Novel)

Cast

Plot: Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

Runtime: 1 Hour 53 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader starts when Lucy (Henley) and Edmund (Keynes) continue to adapt to life. They miss their time in Narnia and the fellow child Eustace (Poulter) doesn’t make their time there easy.

When they get taken back into Narnia, they find themselves working with Caspian (Barnes) once again. The latest battle sees them travelling by sea to fight a new threat to Narnia with Eustace along for the journey.

Verdict on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third chapter in the series. It sees two of the siblings returning to Narnia again for a new battle. This time we are at open sea as Narnia faces a new threat. They must learn quickly in this latest battle as they continue to battle their own desires back home.

This doesn’t have the same magic as the originals, scaling back the adventure. It feels more like a side quest along the way to a bigger adventure. However, it does continue to have the bigger meaning behind the different worlds, escaping the troubles of war. This also struggles by only having two of the four siblings involved, which does feel like forced budget cuts. It is fine for the last chapter in the adventures though.

Final Thoughts – The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a basic ending to a trilogy.

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Movie Review

The Secret Kingdom (2023) Movie Review

The Secret Kingdom – Movie Review

Secret Kingdom

Director: Matt Drummond

Writer: Matt Drummond (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Story of anxious Peter (12) and his sister Verity (9), taken underground by a garrison of armoured pangolin

Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Secret Kingdom starts when the Drawmer family moves home. Parents Viviane (Parkinson) and David (Gabardi) are tyring to start a fresh life, knowing the added pressure it would place on their child. Meanwhile, their children Peter (Everingham) and Verity (Browne) are struggling to the new environment.

When Peter and Verity uncover a secret kingdom below their feet, they get transported to it. As they try to navigate the world guided by armoured pangolins, they learn that Peter is their King. He must overcome his own fears to keep his sister safe, protect the kingdom and get back home.

Verdict on The Secret Kingdom

The Secret Kingdom is a family adventure movie following two pre-teen siblings. They find themselves struggling to adapt to their new home when they find themselves transported to another world. A place that sees them looking to overcome their own fears to survive and save the kingdom.

This is a family adventure that gets to see how two siblings look to cope with a new home. The world creature is ambitious and filled with a host of fantasy creatures. This makes us feel like the journey is filled with peril and covers an important message along the way. We have two great child performances from Alyla Browne and Sam Everingham. With special effects that fully engross us in the world.

Final Thoughts – The Secret Kingdom is a beautiful fantasy with an emotional core.

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Movie Review

Exceptional Beings (2023) Movie Review

Exceptional Beings – Movie Review

Exceptional Beings

Director: Njedeh Anthony, Christian Kazadi

Writer: Njedeh Anthony (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Two Supernatural Beings begin to question their Godhood, when they encounter a human being, an ordinary woman with an uncanny essence, who doesn’t conform to their thousands of years of knowledge about humanity. They journey through her existence, as it relates to their desperate need to understand answers to questions, they never believed existed.

Runtime: 1 Hour 36 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Exceptional Beings starts when Athena (Carter) and Hermes (Oliver) use their powers as Gods to visit a mortal woman Mina (Thundat). They believe something is different about her compared to other humans. As they explore her past, they learn bigger secrets about her past.

Athena and Hermes start going down a path to learn the truth, as Mina finds herself questioning reality. This all leads to a deeper conversation nobody involved was willing to discuss as the Gods look to reclaim their place on Earth.

Verdict on Exceptional Beings

Exceptional Beings is a fantasy drama following Gods who are trying to understand who a human really is. They can’t understand the power she has and look to break her to learn the truth about what she means for their own kind.

This is an interesting movie showing us the insecure side of the Gods. We get to see how they believe they are all controlling but a being creates uncertainty about their futures. The way this story unfolds adds plenty of mystery about what is going on. While we also get to see how Gods could struggle to see humans in modern-day life.

This ends up being a fascinating movie and creates a world we could easily return to. The idea that Gods among humans could be searching for ideas of what life has become keeps us wanting more. In the performances in the film, we get strong performances from the whole cast.

Final Thoughts – Exceptional Beings is a fascinating fantasy thriller.

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Movie Review

The Portable Door (2023) Movie Review

The Portable Door – Movie Review

Portable Door

Director: Jeffrey Walker

Writer: Tom Holt, Leon Ford (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Paul Carpenter is an intern at a mysterious London firm with unconventional employers, including a CEO who wants to disrupt the ancient magical world with modern corporate practices.

Runtime: 1 Hour 56 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Portable Door starts when young man Paul Carpenter (Gibson) stumbles into a strange job interview. He gets to meet the owner Mr Wells (Waltz) along with Mr Tanner (Neill), Professor Van Spee (House), Countess Judy (Otto) and Casimir Suslowicz (Pang).

After Paul ends up getting the role, he meets fellow recruit Sophie (Wilde) who understands more about the company. However, Paul learns there is a much darker side to the company as he looks to understand why he was selected.

Verdict on The Portable Door

The Portable Door is a fantasy adventure movie following an unlikely young man entering a secret society. He must team up with a fellow intern as they look to uncover a secret they are playing to release on the human race.

This is a new attempted young adult-style movie that takes us to a magical world. It creatures the different characters well and the unlikely two need to fight back to learn their place in it. while this offers very little new to the already over-popularity sub-genre. It does everything to make it entertaining throughout. However, it does feel like it could be better off being a television series, over a potential film series. The performances are strong enough, with the big names stealing the spotlight too often from the younger cast.

Final Thoughts – The Portable Door is a simple entertaining fantasy movie.

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Movie Review

Pinocchio (2019) Movie Review

Pinocchio – ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – P – Pinocchio – Movie Review

Pinocchio

Director: Matteo Garrone

Writer: Matteo Garrone, Massimo Ceccherini (Screenplay)

Writer: Carlo Collodi (Novel)

Cast

  • Federico Ielapi
  • Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful)
  • Rocco Papeleo
  • Massimo Ceccherini
  • Marine Vacth

Plot: Old woodcarver Geppetto’s puppet creation, Pinocchio, magically comes to life with dreams of becoming a real boy. Easily led astray, Pinocchio tumbles from one misadventure to another as he is tricked, kidnapped and chased by bandits.

Runtime: 2 Hours 5 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Pinocchio starts when Geppetto (Benigni) decides to make himself a puppet to keep him company. He searches around the town for more work, with most of the town knowing about his struggles. When Geppetto makes Pinocchio (Ielapi), he is shocked to discover he has come to life. He makes him his own son, trying to help him fit in with the rest of the village.

After Pinocchio finds himself drawn to a travelling circus, he is given five gold coins. He must return home to give them to his father, however, not everyone is as helpful on his journey home.

Verdict on Pinocchio

Pinocchio is a live-action version of the classic tale. In this version we see the wooden puppet travelling around touching people’s lives as he learns about the world. This takes us along to meet a range of different characters along the way.

When it comes to the different visions behind the Pinocchio tale, this one easily becomes one of the more original takes. This becomes one that ends up being real world creation. However, it is filled with moments that are pure fantasy. It is genius how this movie is put together and one you must experience.

Final Thoughts – Pinocchio is an amazing creation of the classic tale.

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Movie Review

Wickensburg (2022) Movie Review

Wickensburg – ABC Film Challenge – Catch Up 2022 – W – Wickensburg – Movie Review

WIckensburg

Director: Richard Boddington

Writer: Richard Boddington (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A mother and her young son move to a new small town. They soon discover the town harbours a dark secret, and it’s a race against time to save the town.

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Wickensburg starts when Celine (Richards) and her son Elliott (Gering) move to a new town. It starts strange in the town, as the two struggle to make friends, except with an outside Willow (White). She makes friends with Elliott and believes she is a witch.

As the two start their own investigation, Celina being a journalist, looks to have her own. The two sides end up working together to investigate a new construction operation in the town, uncovering a bigger cover-up.

Verdict on Wickensburg

Wickensburg is a fantasy horror that follows a new family coming to a mysterious town. They see strange things happening, leading them to investigate and uncover a dark secret. This leads to them racing against time to stop the town from getting worse before it is too late.

The movie does everything by the book. It has a new family in the town, makes friends with an outsider, brings people closer and is a shady business owner. This all comes together for the story, which feels more like an early draft ‘Goosebumps’ story. One that needed a bit more fine-tuning. However, the performances are strong enough to keep us entertained, in what is more of an entry-level fantasy horror.

Final Thoughts – Wickensburg is a safe fantasy horror movie.